Haiti Deploys Weaponized Drones in Fight Against Gangs, Raising Legal and Ethical Questions

Port-au-Prince, Haiti – June 26, 2025 - In a dramatic escalation of its campaign against gang violence, the Haitian government has begun using weaponized drones to target criminal groups that control much of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The strikes, which began earlier this year, have reportedly killed over 300 gang members and wounded hundreds more, according to the National Human Rights Defense Network.

The drone operations mark a turning point in Haiti's struggle to reclaim territory from gangs that have paralyzed the country's institutions, displaced more than 1.3 million people, and overwhelmed the national police force. The drones-commercial models modified to carry improvised explosives-have been used in first-person view (FPV) attacks, often flying directly into buildings and detonating on impact.

A Desperate Strategy

The Haitian National Police, with support from private military contractors and foreign advisors, began deploying drones after traditional law enforcement methods failed to contain the violence. Reports indicate that Erik Prince, the controversial founder of Blackwater, has been involved in advising or supplying the drone program.

The strikes have targeted gang strongholds in neighborhoods like Delmas 6, Wharf Jérémie, and Bel-Air, where groups such as Viv Ansanm-a powerful gang alliance-have entrenched themselves.

International Backlash

While many Haitians have welcomed the drone strikes as a rare show of force against gangs, the operations have drawn criticism from international observers. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which had donated drones to Haiti for surveillance purposes, expressed concern that the equipment is now being used in "kamikaze" missions.

Legal experts warn that the drone strikes may violate Haitian and international law, as the country has not formally declared an armed conflict. Without such a declaration, the use of lethal force is supposed to be limited to imminent threats to life, and there is little transparency about how targets are selected.

A Nation on the Brink

Haiti's security crisis has deepened since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. With 80% of Port-au-Prince under gang control, the government has struggled to maintain order. A Kenyan-led international police mission, backed by the United States, has made limited progress in restoring stability.

In the absence of a fully functioning state, drone warfare has become a symbol of both desperation and innovation. As one Haitian official put it, "Our security forces cannot confront these challenges alone"